Disclaimer: Alas, tis not mine. If it was, I wouldn't be sitting at my computer wishing I did.

Innocence of a Child

Chapter 1: Chests and Stories

Innocence of a child…I'm not sure what it means but Mum said it just the other day. You see, my name is William Turner III.

My Father is away at sea. Mum hasn't told me what for…but she says someday I can know. Don't tell anyone, but I think he's a pirate.

I asked her once what he did and she only said that he helped people and couldn't come back until I was almost ten years old.

I'm not quite five now and that seems an awfully long time to wait. Mum thinks it will be over before I know it.

I don't think that's true because two days ago I heard Mum in the middle of night. I was thirsty and was going to the well for a mug of water when I heard her.

She was crying.

I didn't mean to hear but since I did I peeked in her room. She was holding her pillows real tight and her face was all red and blotchy.

She didn't see me and I kept very silent-like.

I continued to watch her and she moved a little. And I saw something underneath the pillows. It was a chest. An ugly one at that. But she was holding it against her stomach like she does to me when I've scraped my knee.

She looked so sad and hurting that I forgot that my throat was itchy and ran into her.

At first, I think she was scared 'cause I was so quiet. She moved her pillows real quick and I couldn't see the ugly chest anymore.

I didn't care too much. It wasn't that nice of a chest anyway.

I asked her what made her cry and gave a nice pat on the shoulder. Bettie, the cook, says that it makes people feel better to be petted. I don't know why 'cause I don't like it one bit. But Mum seemed to like it.

She told me that her heart hurt and that she missed Will. That's my Father's name, William Edward Turner II.

I understood both. And I told her so. For one, she was holding that chest so tight against her and that didn't look very soft or plushy.

I told her that, too.

She jerked and her eyes went all wide-like. From the cold I believe. So, I went over to a trunk, pulled out a blanket, and tucked her in like she did to me every night.

I asked her if she wanted a story, too, and she said yes. I told her my favorite about the Blacksmith Pirate and the Governor's Daughter. She laughed at all the right parts and at some parts, I didn't understand this but I guess I'm just a good storyteller, she looked like she was gonna cry again.

When I finished my throat hurt super bad and so I said that she needed to go to bed, like she always tells me. Then I walked to the door and said goodnight.

She laughed again and said, "ah, the innocence of children" and then she told me she loved me and Father loved me and would come back as soon as he could.

I said that I loved her, closed the door, and went to get my drink.

I had to get an awful big drink since my throat was all rough but when I went back to bed Mum wasn't crying anymore.

And that is a success, I think.

TBC...